Netflix’s riveting and bingeable thriller His and Hers has the most diabolical twist seen in years

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As Tessa Thompson’s character, Anna Andrews, repeatedly points out in the new Netflix thriller His & Hers, “There are two sides to every story.” This phrase isn’t just the show’s premise – inviting viewers to decide who to believe as a murder mystery unfolds – it also reflects how the show itself can be viewed in two very different ways.

Detective Jack Harper (Jon Bernthal from The Bear), a weary and troubled investigator, is assigned to the murder case – a case that deeply connects him to Anna. Their complex relationship forms the core of the series. Both have ties to the victim, and as they investigate, secrets are revealed and they begin to suspect one another.

The actors playing Jack and Anna are both captivating, drawing viewers in and holding their attention. Jon Bernthal especially shines as the troubled small-town cop, bringing both intensity and surprising tenderness to the role. He expertly balances the character’s explosive energy with moments of quiet vulnerability, revealing a hidden caring side.

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As expected, His & Hers truly showcases Hunter Thompson’s talent – and it’s not just because she was also a producer. She’s a fantastic actress, and she completely owns every scene, skillfully guiding the emotional flow and action. Her character is complex and realistic, allowing for contradictions and keeping you invested even when her perspective is questionable.

The main weakness of this six-episode series lies in its plot construction. While surprising twists are expected in a good mystery – and this show, based on Alice Feeney’s novel, was advertised by Netflix as a twisty psychological thriller – the execution falls short.

The show His & Hers asks a lot of its viewers. To fully enjoy the story, you have to willingly accept some pretty unbelievable plot points. It constantly strains credulity – how could no one notice the detective’s strange behavior? And seriously, breaking into a morgue and using a corpse’s eyes to unlock a phone? It requires a big leap of faith.

Priya, Harper’s colleague, is essentially the only one effectively investigating crimes, which makes it surprising this quiet town hasn’t become overrun by criminals.

And the ending? Let’s just say it was shocking. We won’t give anything away, but it left us as speechless as we were after finishing Behind Her Eyes – and that’s saying something, even compared to shows by Harlan Coben!

The new television series, His & Hers, comes from filmmaker William Oldroyd, known for his BAFTA-nominated work. This is his first TV project, and it definitely has a cinematic quality. It’s visually stunning and highly stylized, perhaps even too rich for television. At times, it feels like a big-budget action film, similar to Mr and Mrs Smith, and it uses a sleek, almost comic book-like visual style, even in its more intense and violent moments.

Although visually polished, the show His & Hers makes some strange creative decisions. The popularity of crime dramas often relies on focusing on the bodies of young women, and this show doesn’t seem to question that trend. While it’s a fictional story, the camera dwells on naked female corpses in a way that doesn’t really add to the plot.

I really enjoyed His & Hers because the women are so complex – they’re all flawed and make questionable choices, but that’s what makes it interesting! It levels the playing field, honestly. Because of that, I could easily overlook some of the show’s issues. It’s just fun to watch characters you don’t necessarily like, and to just lose yourself in a story that doesn’t pretend to be realistic.

We support moving away from the notion of a ‘perfect victim,’ but some of the portrayals of the women involved in the mystery could unfortunately reinforce harmful and outdated stereotypes.

Despite being well-made and featuring a talented cast, His & Hers isn’t aiming to be high-brow television – and surprisingly, that’s perfectly okay.

His & Hers is available now on Netflix.

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2026-01-08 11:19